Inspection machine



NOV. 27, 1945. c T ET AL 2,390,012

- INSPECTION MACHINE Filed Nov. 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS /2or c'r/nz/ zn p f/G. I .mHg Ron/Fuss Nov. 27, 1945. R. c. TIMM.ETAL 2,390,012-

INSPECTION MACHINE Filed Noy. 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 27, 1945 INSPECTION MACHINE Roy 0. Timm, Buffalo, and John Rothfuss,

Orchard Park, N. Y., assignors to Trico Products Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y

Application November 28, 1942, Serial No. 467,252

9 Claims.

This invention relates to inspection machines and more particularly to the automatic type of such machines.

Its principal object is to eliminate the human factor in the inspection of mass production parts by providing eflicient mechanical means whereby such parts are gauged in a, practical manner to allowed tolerances and whereby those parts having any inaccuracies in their various tolerances are quickly and automatically detected and rejected. A further object is to provide a machine having in addition to the above characteristics the ability to sort the rejected parts into groups of similar inaccuracies, and a still further object to provide a machine to count the accepted parts to a predetermined number and then shut itself off. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a driving means;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of one of the inspection stations;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the rejection means thereof;

Fig. 5 is a, sectional view of the inspection station taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another inspection station partially in section, taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the inspection station illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part positioning means;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the starting and feeding station;

Fig. 10 is a detailed elevational view of a part embracing element;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational View of the part positioning means;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the interlocking switch means;

Fig. 13 is a view taken along line I3-l3 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system of the machine.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a table II upon which is mounted a part carrier l2, herein illustrated as a disc, for receiving increments of rotative movements by a drive means l3. On the carrier l2 at selected intervals are a plurality of work piece holders herein illustrated in the'form of openings M for embracing or supporting a work piece l5, such as a bullet core. Fixed to the table about and adjacent the periphery of the carrier is a starting and feeding station l6 and a plurality of inspection or gauging stations ll, l8, I9 and 20, each of said gauging stations having an automatic rejection device 2|, 2|, 2| a and Zlb respectively, associated therewith. The numeral 22 designates a counter for enumerating the accepted cores and 23 denotes an automatic switch for shutting off the machine at a predetermined number.

The general sequence-of the machines operation is as follows. A part, or bullet core, is fed into the carrier at the feeding station and is rotated by increments to the various inspection stations where they are gauged. Station ll gauges for oversize diameter, station l8 for undersize diameter, station l9 for oversize length, and station 20 for undersize length. When a core successfully passes all these stations it is counted at station 22 and dropped through an opening in the table into its designated receptacle. If the core does not pass inspection at any one of the gauging stations the coacting rejection device associated with that particular station is automatically actuated and the core will fall through a trap door into a designated receptacle for that station. A more detailed description of this illustrated embodiment of the invention follows.

The drive means I3 is located beneath the table II and comprises a, motor 24 for rotatively driving an eccentric 21 through a speed reducer 28, belt drive 29 and a horizontal countershaft 30. A second horizontal countershaft 3| laterally spaced from the first has a bevel gear 32 fixed to its inner end and. is intermittently driven by a ratchet 33 mounted thereon and apawl 34 pivotally carried by a finger 37- which is connected to the eccentric 21 for oscillatory recip rocation by a connecting rod 38. Extending upwardly through the table II and having a driving connection with carrier I2 is a central vertical shaft 39 which receives the intermittent motion of the gear 32 through an intermeshed bevel gear 40. The countershaft 39 has fixed thereon a pair of cams 4i and 42 for actuating a pair of interlocking micro-switches 43 and 44, respectively,

the function of which will be described later.

The opening I4 in the carrier [2 have fitted therein part embracing elements 46 of hardened metal, comprising a tubular seat portion 41 and a pair of depending part embracing finger 48. Beneath the carrier l2 and fixed to the table II by bolts 49 and of complementary disc shape is a platform 50 having a circular channel or guideway into which the fingers 4B depend. An anti-friction bearing 52 mounted on the platform 59 about the shaft 39 supports the carrier l2 slightly spaced above the platform to allow free rotation thereof. However, to assure positive p-oitioning of the carrier at each station, a plurality of spring and ball detent means 53 are provided.

The starting and feeding station comprises a quadrant shaped member 54 pivotally connected to the shaft 39 having a finger 51 extending radially therefrom and resting upon a supporting pedestal 58. The quadrant shape of this member provides a covering for a part of the carrier l2 to protect the operator from being injured by moving parts. On the side of the pedestal 58 is fastened a normally open micro-switch 59 having its actuating lever 60 extending beneath and actuated by the finger 51 when the finger is in the position shown in Fig. 1. A guiding sleeve 6| having an opening 62 is fitted into the part 54 in a position to register with one of the parts 46 when the carrier is held at rest by the detent means 53. It is through this sleeve that the cores l5 are fed into the parts 46 to be advanced by the carrier l2 to the various gauging stations. By making the opening 62 of this sleeve to a definite tolerance it acts as a preliminary oversize diameter gauging station and by making the distance from the bottom of the guideway 5| to the bottom of the sleeve a predetermined length it acts as a pregauging means for oversize length. When a core is of a size to pass through this preliminary gauging station but is too large to be completely received by the part 46 it serves as a means to lock the member 54 with the carrier H! as shown by the broken line position of the core in Fig. 9. When this occurs the next increment of movement of the carrier 12 will rotate the member 54 about the shaft 39 and away from contact with the switch actuating lever 60 thereby releasing the lever which breaks the circuit and shut off the motor 24 for stopping the machine. If the core is longer than the distance between the bottom of the guideway and bottom of the sleeve it will likewise interlock the carrier with the finger and shut off the machine on the next increment of movement. A tension spring 62 normally holds the finger 51 in position against a stop 63 on the pedestal whereby sleeve Si is held in its operative registry with the parts 46. When the finger is rotated as described above it drops behind an abutment 64 on top of the pedestal which holds it against the spring tension. When the carrier is cleared of the locked condition a slight upward push by the operator will permit the finger to snap back to its operative position against the stop 63 actuating th switch 59 and starting the carrier moving again. At the termination of each increment of rotation a new core is dropped into the carrier through the sleeve 6|.

When the core is the correct size to be received by the part 48 of the carrier I2 it is moved around to the first inspection station H for gauging oversize diameters. On its arrival a pair of spring pressed plunger 61 (Fig. 5) acting between the fingers 4B of the part 46 engages the core to position it firmly against a hardened insert 65 in the back wall of the channel 5!. The gauging operation is accomplished by means of a plunger 68 located in this embodiment between the pair of spring pressed plungers 61 and having its inner tip extending into the channel 5| a sufficient distance to allow a core of the maximum allowed tolerance to pass between the tip and the hardened insert without actuating it. Should the core be oversize, the plunger would be pushed outwardly against a short arm 69 of an amplifying bell crank lever 10 which is pivotally mounted on a pedestal H. The long arm 12 of the lever 10 would increase or amplify the movement of the plunger a sufficient amount to actuate the contactor 13 of a micro-switch 14 which is normally open. The plunger 68 is normally held out against the short arm of the lever by a light compression spring 11 positioned around the plunger between a head 18 on its outer end and the outer periphery of the platform 50. To vary the maximum allowed tolerance of the part to be gauged the micro-switch is slidably mounted on a block 19 by means of adjusting screws 89, 8|. By backing off screw 89 the switch is urged away from the long arm 12 of the lever 10 by springs 82 on the screws 8| allowing th light spring 11 to move the tip of the plunger outwardly of the channel until the long arm 12 again contacts the switch contactor 13 thereby increasing the allowed maximum tolerance. To decrease this tolerance the reverse procedure is followed. Screw is turned inwardly pressing the switch 14 against the tension of springs 82 and the switch contactor 13 against the long arm I2. This rotates the lever 19 counterclockwise against the plunger 68 thereby pressing it inwardly of the channel 5| against spring 1'! thereby decreasing the allowed tolerance.

The closing of switch 74 b an oversize core actuates an indicator or other device such as a solenoid 83 of the rejection station 2| associated with station ll. Actuation of this solenoid causes its plunger 84 to be drawn upwardly thereby rotating 2. bell crank 81 clockwise about its pivot 88 to withdraw a gate 89 pivotally connected thereto at 99, from the channel 51 and allowing the oversize core on the next increment of movement to drop through a chute 9| to a receiver 95 located on a platform 96 positioned beneath the table II.

To hold the gate 89 open until the rejected core drops through it, a latch pin 92 freely pivoted at 93 to a rocker arm 94 is positioned to drop into an opening 91 in .the gate 89 when the latter is Withdrawn from the channel. The rocker arm 94 is pivotally mounted at 96 on a block 98 fastened to the table I l adjacent the periphery of the carrier l2 and is provided at its outer end with an upstanding cam surface 99. A coil spring 94 normally urges the pin 92 downwardly and the cam surface upwardly into the path of fingers I extending radially from the carrier [2 which on the next increment of movement will contact the sam surface 99 thereby depressing the outer end of the rocker arm and raise the pin from the opening to release the gate for closing under the urge of the solenoid spring (not shown). If the core is within the allowed maximum tolerance it will pass by station I1 without actuating the trap door 89 but continue over it to the next inspection station l8.

Station It is for gauging cores of undersize diameter and is similar in construction to the Previous station I! with the exceptions that the micro -switch 14 is normally closed and the plunger 69 is set so that the distance between the back of the channel and the tip of the plunger is equal to the minimum allowed tolerance. A rejection station 2| exactly the same as that previously described is associated with this station for rejecting undersize cores. Connected in seris with the micro-switch I4 is th previously mentioned interlocking micro-switch 43 which latter is normally open. When the core reaches station I8 it is within the allowed maximum tolerance but it may or may not be within the allowed minimum tolerance. Considering first, that the core is within minimum tolerance the plunger 68' is actuated and through the amplifying bell crank I and switch contactor I3 opens the switch 14. At the same time cam 4i on countershaft 30 closes the interlocking switch 43 but because switch I4 is now open the associated rejection station 2I' is not actuated and the core moves over the trap door to the next station. On the other hand if the core is undersize it would not actuate the plunger 08 thereby leaving the switch I4 closed and as the interlocking switch 43 is in series with switch I4 and has been closed by the cam 4I when the core reaches this station, the associated rejection station 2I' is actuated, thereby opening the trap door, and the core drops through a chute (similar to chute 9|) on the next increment of movement to the associated receiver 95.

Interposed between stations I8 and I9 is a device IOI for assuring positive seating of the core on the channel floor in preparation for length gauging at stations I9 and 20. This seatin device comprises a vertical standard I02 fastened to the table II by screws I03, and an inturned bracket part I04 overhanging the embracing elements 46 as they pass therebeneath. Pivotally mounted at I0'I on the standard I02 and supported by lugs I08 in a substantially horizontal plane between the bracket part I04 and the immediately underlying element 46 is a plate I09 held in its lowermost position against the lugs I03 by compression springs H0. The outer active portion of this plate is formed or disposed at an incline so that its leading edge III will be of sufficient height above the channel floor to allow the introduction of a core of more than the desired maximum length while the trailing edge I I2 will be of sufficient height above the channel floor to press cores of less than the desired minimum length firmly thereagainst. As viewed in Fig. 8 a core is shown beneath the plate I09 inv full lines as being unseated from the channel floor. As the carrier is rotated, to the left in this view, the core will be pressed downwardly by the underside of plate I09 untilit is seated on the channel floor. Then if the core is longer than the distance between the trailing edge H2 and the channel floor the plate will pivot upwardly against the springs III) allowing the core to pass beneath it to station I9.

Inspection station I9 (Figs. 6 and '7) is for gauging oversize length cores and comprises a vertical standard or pedestal II3 having a horizontal bracket part II4 overhanging the carrier I2 and the adjacent elements 46. Fixed to the part H4 is a second pedestal I I? having pivotally mounted thereon at H8 2. block II9 carrying a micro-switch I20. Also mounted on the part H4 and located directly over an element 46 when the latter is at rest is a plunger I2I having its lower. end I22 at a height above the channel floor equal to the desired maximum allowed length, and its headed upper end I23 held in contact with switch contactor I24 by a light compression spring I2'I positioned around the plunger I2! between its headed upper end I23 and part II4. To prevent the plunger from becoming accidently displaced from part II4 a pin I28 is provided. A means for varying the allowed maximum length tolerances is provided by the elongated adjusting lever I29 which is fastened at one of its ends to the underside of the pivotally mounted block I I9.

The other end has an opening I30 through which an adjusting screw I3I passes and screws into an underlying co-extensive arm I32 rigidly mounted on the pedestal II3. A spring I33 holds the lever I29 upwardly against the head of the screw I3I. To vary the allowed tolerance of the maximum length of the core the adjusting screw I3I is turned inwardly or outwardly of the part I32 thereby rotating the block II9 about its pivot H8 in a counterclockwise or clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. Rotation of block II9 carrying switch I20 moves the contactor I24 upwardly or downwardly thereby allowing the spring to raise the plunger to increase the distance between its tip I22 and the bottom of the channel or forcing plunger I2I downwardly to decrease the said distance.

Actuation of the plunger I2I by an overlength core operates the associated rejection station 2 Ia, which is exactly similar to the previously described rejection stations 2I and 2| and allows the .core to drop through the trap door to the associated receiver 95a. If the core is within the maximum tolerance the trap door remains closed and the core passes over it to the next inspection station 20.

Inspection station 20 is for gauging undersized length cores and is exactly similar in. construction to the previously described station I9 except that the distance between the tip I22 of the plunger I 2| and the floor of the channel is set for the minimum allowed tolerance and the micro-switch I20 is normally closed. To vary this tolerance the same procedure as described for the above station I9 is followed. In its operation this station is similar to the operation of station I8. Connected in series with micro-switch I 20' is the previously mentioned normally open interlocking micro-switch 44 for operating the associate rejection station 2Ib. During the time the core is at this station the cam 42 holds the switch 44 closed. When the core reaches this station it is within the maximum allowed tolerance but may or may not be within the allowed minimum tolerance. If the core is within this desired tolerance a plunger (similar to plunger I2I) is actuated thereby opening switch I29 and preventing the rejection station from operating. If the core is less than the minimum allowed tolerance it will not actuate the switch I20 but allow it to remain closed. As the interlocking switch 44 is closed when the core is at this station, they are now both interlockingly closed thereby operating the rejection station 2Ibto open the trap door and the core drops through chute 9I on the next increment of movement to an associated receiver 95b for that station.

When a core has passed all of the inspection stations successfully, further rotation of the carrier brings it into actuating contact with one end of a lever I34 of the counter 22. The other end of the lever I34 actuates the counting mechanism, of the counter 22, to register each accepted part, The counter 22 may be set to open the switch 23 at a predetermined number of accepted parts thereby shutting off the machine. Further rotation of the carrier brings the accepted core into registry with an opening I31, in the platform 50, through which it drops into an associated receptacle I36 for accepted cores.

Referring to the wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. 14 one side of the motor 24 is connected to a source of electrical energy I38 through a manual switch I39 by conductor I40, the other side of the motor being connected to the source of energy through micro-switches 23 and 59 by connectors MI and I42. Stations I1 and I9 are connected to the source of energy I38 respectively through their switches 14, I20, and their solenoids ZI, 2Ia by conductors I42 and I43. Stations I8 and 20 are connected to the source of energy I38 respectively through their switches '14, I20, their interlocking switches 43, 44 and their solenoids 2I', 2Ib by connectors I42 and I43.

In the foregoing description the inspection of one core has been followed through the various inspection stations to its final counting and acceptance. However it should be understood that at each increment of rotative movement of the carrier, another part or core is placed therein, through the starting station, to follow the previous one through the various inspection stations. Thus it can be seen that all of the various stations are each performing its gauging function at the same-time but on different pieces.

This series of inspection stations has been illustrated and described by way of example. However, it should be understood by varying the number of stations and the positions of the switch actuators, that numerous other gaugings may be made by simple changes in the carrier and that a variety of parts may be inspected. Thus it can be understood that the applicants do not wish to be restricted by the above specific description but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mass production parts inspection machine comprising a table, a platform fixed thereon having a guideway in its upper face, a carrier pivotally mounted over the platform and having a plurality of part embracing members fixed therein adjacent the periphery thereof, each of said part embracing members having fingers depending into said guideway for steadying its embraced part, means for pregauging the parts to be inspected and presenting the same successively into the part embracing members whereby each part may depend into the guideway, a plurality of gauging stations comprising oversize and undersize diameter gauging stations having gauging means extending into the said annular groove, oversize and undersize length gauging stations having gauging means overlying the part embracing member, means between the diameter and the length gauging stations for favorably positioning said parts for their length inspection, and means for rotating said carrier whereby 'the parts may be presented to each of said stations.

2. An inspection machine for elongated parts comprising a table, a fixed platform having a guideway in its upper face with opposed walls, a carrier movably mounted over the platform and having a plurality of part embracin members fixed therein adjacent the periphery thereof,

each of said part embracing members having spaced fingers depending between the opposed walls of said guideway for steadying and supporting its embraced part fore and aft in an upended position, means for feeding the parts to be inspected successively into the part embracing members whereby each part may depend into the guideway between the fingers, a diameter gauging station having gauging means extending into the guideway to contact the part exposed between the fingers for gauging the same, and means for moving said carrier whereby the parts may be presented successively to such station.

3. An inspection machine comprising a movable carrier having a plurality of article supporting seats, inspection means arranged adjacent the path of movement of the carrier for acting upon the articles as successively presented thereto by the carrier, means operable to intermittently move the carrier for so successively presenting the supported articles to the inspection means, means for arresting the carrier moving means, means for selectively feeding the articles to their seats on the carrier, said selective means being mounted for limited movement by the carrier by and during the failure of the selective means feeding its article fully to the car'- rier, and means operable by the carrier imparted movement of the selective means for actuating said arresting means.

4. A parts inspection machine comprising a movable carrier having part receiving openings therein, means for operating the carrier including a shutoff device, a movable member overhanging said carrier having an opening adapted to register with an underlying carrier opening through which a part is fed into such registering carrier opening, said member adapted to suspend an oversize part in a position from which it extends into the registering opening of the carrier for coupling said member to the latter for being driven thereby, and means operable by and during the carrier imparted movement of the movable member for actuating the shutoff device.

5. A parts inspection machine comprising a movable carrier having part receiving portions for supporting elongated parts upright on end to be inspected, means for moving the carrier, a diameter inspection station comprising gauging means for actuation by the upright part as it is presented to the inspection station by the carrier, a length inspection station comprising gauging means and an actuator for the latter overhanging the part receiving portions for actuation by the upright part during movement of the latter therebeneath for gauging the length of the part, and means interposed between the two inspection stations operable to axially shift any misplaced part for favorably positioning the part for its length inspection.

6. An inspection machine for elongated parts comprising a stationary guideway having opposed walls between which the parts are disposed on end in an upright position, a movable carrier having part receiving portions overhanging said guideway for supporting the parts to be inspected whereby the parts will be guided by the guideway during movement of the carrier, a diameter inspection station comprising gauging means for actuation by the part as it is presented to the inspection station by the carrier, said carrier portions having fore and aft steadying fingers depending into the guideway for supporting the part on end during gauging operation, and means for moving said carrier.

7. A parts inspection machine comprising a stationary guideway, a movable carrier having part receiving portions overhanging said guideway for supporting the parts to be inspected whereby the parts will be guided by the guideway during movement of the carrier, a length inspection station comprising gauging means overhanging the part receiving portions for actuation by the part during movement of said carrier, means for pregauging the thickness of the parts presented to the carrier, said pregauging means adapted to be coupled to the carrier by an oversize part for moveemnt thereby, and means for operating the carrier including a shut-oil? device, said pregauging means operating to actuate the shut-01f device by and during the carrier imparted movement.

8. A machine for inspecting parts, comprising a platform having a guideway with opposed sid walls and a part supporting bottom Wall, a carrier overlying the guideway and movable in the direction of extent thereof, said carrier having a seat through which a part may be guided to rest on end in the guideway, said seat having fingers depending into the guideway fore and aft of the part to support the latter upright therein while the carrier is in motion, and a gauging station having a part engaging plunger mounted in a side wall of the guideway for gauging contact with the part between the fingers.

9. A machine for inspecting parts, comprising a platform having a guideway with opposed side walls and a part supporting bottom wall, a carrier overlying the guideway and movable in the direction of extent thereof, said carrier having a seat through which a part may be guided to rest on end in the guideway, said seat having fingers depending into the guideways fore and aft of the part to support the latter upright therein while the carrier is in motion, a gauging station having a part engaging plunger mounted in a side wall of the guideway for gauging contact with the part between the fingers, means for operating the carrier to bring the part to rest opposite the plunger for such gauging contact therewith, and means adjacent the plunger for engaging the part at points above and below the plunger to poise the part for such gauging contact when so arrested.

ROY C. TIMM. JOHN ROTHFUSS. 

